Pancratiuskerk

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Bell Tower of the Pancratiuskerk

North side of the Pancratiuskerk

Back of the Pancratiuskerk; the right of the picture shows part of the Schelmentoren

The Pancratiuskerk is a Roman Catholic church in Heerlen in the Netherlands.

[edit] History

Although no written sources about the origin of the church are known, a comparative study (including among others Onze-Lieve-Vrouwebasiliek in Maastricht) concludes that building started in the first half of the 12th century ^[1].

It is believed that the building was commissioned by the counts of Ahr-Hochstaden in the Rhineland, then the lords of Heerlen ^[2].

The current bell tower was built in 1394, and for the size of the church at that time was of a relatively heavy construction. The tower served as part of the defense mechanism for the Landsfort Herle.

From 1632 till 1836 the Pancratiuskerk served as a church for both Catholics and Protestants. The Protestants obtained their own church in 1836 and the arrangement ended.^[3].

A stair tower, located on the south side of the bell tower was built in 1862 ^[4].

Between 1901 and 1903 Joseph Cuypers renovated and enlarged the church. The choir was demolished and replaced by a new eastern part, with a transept, crossing tower and a new choir, all in neo-romanesque style and using marl stone^[5].

Frits Peutz, best known for the Glaspaleis located on the same square, supervised the repair of war damage between 1945 and 1948 ^[6].

In 1960 a sacristy and a baptistry were built on the south side^[7].

The current interior is a mixture of an interior created by Pierre Cuypers in 1880 and a modernisation of 1969. Frescoes created by Charles Eyck decorate parts of the ceiling^[8].

The stained glass windows dating from between 1947 until the 1960s was created by Eugène Laudy and include Saint Nicholas, Saint Andrew, Saint Barbara, and Saint Servatius ^[9].